February 10, 2020
A letter from K-State Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Greetings K-Staters,
It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that I write to our university this morning. Using our momentum from institutional initiatives such as KSUnite and Wildcat Dialogues, among others, the spring 2020 semester is full of diversity and inclusion initiatives that will assist our university with continuing our commitment to a culture characterized by pride and respect for all. Among these notable initiatives include the following:
University Climate Survey
As previously mentioned by President Myers during KSUnite and a letter to our university on Feb. 3, the University Climate Survey will be deployed on Monday, Feb. 10, and will provide all students, faculty, staff and administrators an opportunity for their voice to be heard. For more information about the University Climate Survey, please visit the webpage.
Difficult Dialogues
The partnership between the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies, the Teaching and Learning Center and the Office of the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer will continue to offer Difficult Dialogues sessions to support faculty with engaging students in the classroom when difficult subjects arise. Three sessions are planned for spring 2020 and the topics and presenters include the following:
1. Dr. Andrew Wefald, Dr. Kimathi Choma, Dr. Jessica Elmore and Dr. Cliff Hight: "A pathway from Non-racism to Anti-racism"; noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Flint Hills Room of the K-State Student Union. Registration is now open. Registration is required and lunch will be provided.
2. Dr. Alisa Garni and Dr. Tom Sarmiento: "Facilitating Inclusive Dialogues about Current Events and Politics"; noon to 1:15 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the K-State Student Union, Room TBD. Registration opens early March.
3. Dr. Don Saucier and Tess Hobson: "Difficult Dialogues About Sensitive Topics"; Mid-April, details TBD.
Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Plan
The President's Commission on Multicultural Affairs continues its work to develop and deploy a universitywide diversity and inclusion plan. This work has included the identification of six thematic areas around which we will structure our strategic diversity and inclusion efforts: student access; student success; climate and intergroup relations; workforce diversity and inclusion; teaching, learning and research; and inclusive excellence. Stay tuned for more information about the plan, including but not limited to opportunities to provide feedback.
Future Faculty Program
Through the generous support of Phillips 66, K-State began a Future Faculty Program in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The aim of the Future Faculty Program is to provide prospective faculty, nearing the end of their doctoral studies, as well as postdocs an opportunity to experience faculty responsibilities and expectations at K-State and familiarize themselves with the campus community so they can have some idea of what it might be like to be a Wildcat. Through the Future Faculty Program, diverse prospects visited our university to cultivate relationships via engagement with the dean of the college, department heads, departmental faculty, students and staff about their academic research and career interests. The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly glowing. A second round of Future Faculty visits is scheduled for March-April.
KSUnite
KSUnite: Moving Forward Together was a huge success. We will use the spring 2020 semester to begin the planning and realization of the next rendition of KSUnite. More information to follow regarding date, themes, topics, call for proposals, etcetera.
Sincerely,
Bryan Samuel, CCDP/AP
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer